SIC FIRE IN PERTH.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXXIV, Issue 10964, 6 May 1907, Page 4

SIC FIRE IN PERTH.

'FAULTY TELEPHONE EXCHANGE. PERTH (W.A.), April 25. ,;one of the most disastrous fires m, the history of Perth occurred early this morning, when. Sandover's fine —tablisliment m Hay street was completely destroyed, and tiie adjoining premises damaged. The alarm was given just after 5, and on the arrival of tiie brigade it was found that the flames had secured a strong hold. The building was four storeys high/ and had a frontage of four 6hops, also a consider-, able depth. Tlie seat of the fire was m tlje cellar, where were stocked paints, oils, benzine, and/ other inflammable stock, m close vicinity to which* were large quantities of explosives. Leaving half of Ms men to play the' water, Fireman Hillier led. the remainder ,i 4 to the explosives. It was particularly dangerous work, but the firemen, going m one Toy ,one, caught up the parcels, which they carried -outi m safety. Meanwhi'e, the flames made great headway, and W. Parker, who sleeps on Jr. White and Co.'s premises, which adjoined the rear port'on of Sandover's, set to work to remove lhe vehicles. A motor-car was taken out first, ana a few minutes later a long string of vehicles ranged from Hay street to the Palace hotel. Then the walls of Sandover's fell liri; completely mining Wliite and Co.'s trimming shop, and burying two buggies and a mourning coach, valued at £250. White estimates his loss at £1000. On the other' side, ,-J. C. M'Kay's drapery establishment fared little better, while tire main structure of Sandover's kept m position Svonderfully well. The side walls fell m, and M"Kay's establishment received the fuirbenent, the rear portion of the place being completely wrecked, while the stocks were damaged by water. The plat-glass windows m Chas. Moore and^Co.'s and other establishments opposite were cracked. .Pieces of burning material were carried some distance, and at the Palace hotel, Foy and Gibson's emporium, and. elsewhere hoses; were kept ih play to prevent outbreaks^- P. Martin, caretake-;* at tlue New Zealand Insurance Company's buildings, was the first to witness the outbreak. He 6ays he made four ineffectual attempts to ring up the fire brigade, but could get no reply from the exchange. He then -dressed and ran into the street, and broke a fire alarm. In the excitement some explosives were overlooked, and a number of -cartridges exploded, causing some alarm. Several ■firemen werci.truck cy falling missiles, but escaped; witl* 1 minor injuries. At the Hotel Metropole the inmates were awakened and dressed m readiness for flight should the wind Wow m Iheir direction, but the wind dropped, and the firemen, aided by o splendid pressure of watei*, succeeded m -.keeping the flamef within their original area. It was some^ hour*, before the flames were got under control, ancl thi.--'af--temdon water was still being "poured on to the ruins. Nothing but.lhe skeleton of the building is left. The whole front wall is standing. All vehicle and tram traffic m Hay street* has been suspended, as it its feared the vibration might bring down the wall, witli disastrous results. Mr Atkinson, Sandover's manager, said —"We were working till 10 last night, taking stock, but the m e n m the cellar, where the fire is supposed to have started, ceased work at* 7.30." He could throw no light on the occurrence. The etock was distributed over four or five warehouses, and he could give no < estimate yet as to the damage, or whether it Mas covered by insurance. The firm employs a large number of hands, and many will be temporarily thrown out of work. Tlie building and contents were fully insured with, tlie Alliance Assurance Co. for £46,834, the building for £14,500, and the contents for £32,334. Daniel White and Co.'s building was insured m the Colonial Mutual for £2000, and the stock for £2500. White's manager estimates •the lloss s at £1000. J. C. M'Kay's stockwas insured m the North British office for about £4000, and the buildings m the Atlas Company for £2600.